Three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war shows no signs of ending, and relations between Russia and the West remain fractured. Germany’s past approach—prioritising economic ties over security concerns—has proven ineffective, leaving Europe vulnerable. A Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) offers a transformative framework to address these challenges, shifting from militarised security to human security, equality, and justice.
Russia’s strategic use of anti-feminism reinforces both domestic repression and foreign aggression, making engagement with feminist civil society—both in Russia and in exile—essential. This policy brief explores how Germany can reframe its approach, critically assessing past missteps and proposing a feminist strategy that prioritises civil society, women’s rights, and nuclear disarmament.
By embedding feminist principles into its foreign policy, Germany can move beyond reactive strategies and contribute to a long-term vision for peace—one that upholds democracy, human rights, and sustainable security.